Area residents head to Nassau County to help Hurricane Sandy victims

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Boats left high and dry in residential streets and countless buildings darkened by power outages greeted local firefighters who responded to Long Island early Wednesday.

More than a dozen members of West Crescent and Wilton fire departments deployed to Nassau County, following a call for help from the state Office of Emergency Services in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Also, the American Red Cross Adirondack-Saratoga Chapter has sent staff and supplies to flooded parts of Dutchess and Ulster counties, and expects to assist relief efforts in assist metropolitan New York as well.

"It's shocking how devastated everything is," said Gary Ferris, Red Cross chapter executive director. "It's too early to know exactly how big our response will be, but it will be a huge one."

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Millions of people from Connecticut to New Jersey are impacted.

West Crescent firefighters went to Long Beach, Long Island, where 30-foot waves and a tidal surge caused all kinds of destruction. The crew has already responded to two calls, a gas leak and a carbon monoxide incident, Saratoga County Fire Coordinator Ed Tremblay said.

A 7 p.m. curfew is in effect because of power outages.

West Crescent firefighters are sleeping in a fire station whose power is supplied by a gas generator.

"When they get down there they're responsible for supplying their own gear, food and accommodations," said Paul Lent, Saratoga County emergency services director.

West Crescent sent an engine ladder truck and Wilton responded with a heavy rescue team that could use equipment such as the Jaws of Life, if needed. Both crews are deployed for 72 hours, the most allowed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for a mutual aid response.

The five-man Wilton team is led by Capt. Stephen Penman and also consists of Lt. Stephen St. Louis and firefighters Tom Meehan, Ray Bailey and Ryan Ward. The men arrived at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and had already responded to three calls by mid-afternoon -- two gas leaks and a building collapse.

"Fortunately, there was no one inside," Fire Chief Bill Morgan said.

He said that uniform state fire training regulations are extremely valuable in disaster situations such as this one. "Whether you're on Long Island or Wilton, you take the same classes," Morgan said. "Everyone in the state is trained to the same level."

Lent said that he expects to get additional requests for assistance to impacted areas, meaning that other local fire companies might send personnel and equipment.

On Monday, area Red Cross chapters provided shelter for 66 people from Plattsburgh to Poughkeepsie.